Only 3 more weeks left to go.............

35 weeks

Look at Me! I'm 3!

More than just Schoolwork

Mackie helping me can tomatoes

my little corn shuckers

Chores and helping out are a big part of homeschool! One of my goals for this year was for Twinkle Toes to learn some household skills and learn to be a helper. In the past, requests for help have been met with lots of whining and complaining, so helping correct this has been one of my goals for the year. Being home has been really good for her so far this year. I think she is learning a lot at home and her attitude with helping has gotten a lot better. We have more time in the day to work on these things and I'm not rushed to get her out the door in the morning. She's been really helpful these last few weeks as we have dealt with some many stressful things.

Remembering Dad

Leslie "Scott" Sharpe, died age 63

my sister, handsome nephew, brother-in-law, uncles, and cousins....good-looking group!

My father passed away a few weeks ago and so of course it has been a difficult time in my life as I have had to mourn his loss here in Oregon being unable to travel and without any family around that knew him. I love this picture of my Dad. It is the one I will remember and keep in my head. This was from his younger, happier years. He is the handsome one without the mustache getting the keys to the post office where he would become Postmaster. Dad made poor choices later in his life and he paid heavily the consequences. Somehow though he always kept his funny sense of humor. He just had a way of saying things that made you laugh. He would often tell me many, many times over the past few years of his life, "Jodie, the two best things I ever did in life was you and Lisa." He had a lot of regrets and one didn't have to think long to know what those were. Once he told me with his best fatherly advice voice, "Jodie, there's 3 kinds of people in this world. Those that sit back and watch it happen. Those that go out and make it happen. And those that wonder what the hell happened." You have to say it with a really strong Southern drawl to get the full effect. And I knew when he said it he was thinking of himself for the latter one. Many wrongs he committed against us, but always I knew he was my Dad and I loved him. I appreciated the fact that he trusted my judgement and respected my choices. After I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, my Dad told me he had seen their commercials on TV and they must be good people. He was fascinated by the fact that we didn't smoke or drink. I had to laugh at that. My prayer is that in the next life he will find the mercy from our judge, Jesus Christ, and get the help he so desperately failed to accept in this life.


I really appreciate those that reached out to me with their condolences in cards, the phone, stopping by, and even facebook. It really meant a lot to me at a time when grieving alone was all I could do. I appreciate those in my life now that did not know my Dad, but still they cared enough to take the time and say they were sorry anyways. Grieving alone in the presence of those that do not know or understand the one deceased is a really lonely, sad place. I shall never wish it upon anyone.